Canadian Resources

Transition planning is a collaborative process Transition Planning A Transition Plan is a written document to support students in achieving their dreams and aspirations for adult life. It is important to initiate the planning process as early as possible to enable the student's team to navigate barriers associated with a student’s strengths and challenges. The Halifax Regional School Board advocates the integration of the transition planning goals into the outcomes of the student's Individual Program Plan. Transition Facts Transition Planning Brochures Nova Scotia Department Transition Planning Guide Nova Scotia Department of Education Transition Planning Fact Sheet Life Skills: Supporting Student Success Transition Resource Activity Kits Books on Transition-Related Topics Community Resource Mapping Canadian Resources Other Resources Updated October 2013

Transition planning is a collaborative process Transition Facts A transition is the passage from one stage to another and is a lifelong process. Transition occurs when a student moves from home to school, from grade to grade, from school to school, from community to school, or from school to community. (Transition Planning for Students with Special Needs: The Early Years through to Adult Life, p. 5) Transition Planning Brochures Community Resource Mapping Canadian Resources Other Resources Facts about Transition Home

Transition planning is a collaborative process Transition Planning Brochures Transition planning takes into consideration all major aspects of each student’s life experiences and assists in determining appropriate educational resources and programming. The crossover from youth to adulthood carries expectations of independent living, employment, and recreational pursuits. Transition planning is essential if students are to be empowered to improve the quality of their independent lives. (Transition Planning for Students with Special Needs: The Early Years through to Adult Life, p. 5) Community Resource Mapping Canadian Resources Other Resources HRSB Individual Transition Planning Information Brochure for Parents and Guardians Transition Planning Brochure Self-Advocacy Student Brochure Home Transition Facts

Transition planning is a collaborative process Community Resource Mapping Community Resource Mappingis a way for the program planning team to focus on what their community has to offer to meet the educational, employment and other requirements of youth. While community resource mapping focuses on what is already present in the community, it can also focus on the development of partnerships where people work together to enhance post-high school options for students with special needs. (Transition Planning for Students with Special Needs: The Early Years through to Adult Life, p. 9) Canadian Resources Other Resources Home Transition Facts Community Resource Mapping Career Handbooks Transition Planning Brochures

Transition planning is a collaborative process Canadian Resources Some Canadian resources that may be helpful in transition planning have been gathered from various provinces. Other Resources Home Provincial Documents Transition Facts Post-secondary Financial Assistance Transition Planning Brochures Conference Board of Canada Brochures Community Resource Mapping

Transition planning is a collaborative process Other Resources Home Some other resources that may be helpful in transition planning have been gathered from sources outside Canada. Transition Facts Webcast: Transition and AAC by David Mc Naughton: Supporting Transitions to the Adult World for Individuals who use AAC UIC Division of Specialized Care for Children : Preparing for Transition More Resources Transition Planning Brochures Community Resource Mapping Canadian Resources

Books on Transition-Related Topics While many sources may exist that are helpful to the team in the transition planning process, some teachers may find the following books and resources useful. These resources may be accessed and borrowed for a two week period. Phone: (902) 464-2000 Ext 2308 Email: libraryorders@hrsb.ns.ca HRSB Library-Spectacle Lake Binder of compiled transition community resources. The resources in this binder have been sorted into priority areas to support easy access for viewing. Basic Social Skills for Youth (1992).Boys Town, NE: The Boys Town Press. Harrington, T. (ed) (2003). Handbook of career planning for students with special needs. Austin, Texas: Pro-Ed International Publisher. PRO-ED Series on Transition: Blalock, G., Benz, M. (1999). Using community transition teams to improve transition services. Austin, Texas: Pro-Ed International Publisher. Bassett, D., Lehmann, J. (2001). Student-focused conferencing and planning. Austin,Texas: Pro-Ed International Publisher. Elksnin, N., Elksnin, L. (1998). Teaching occupational social skills. Austin, Texas: Pro- Ed International Publisher.

Books on Transition-Related Topics PRO-ED Series on Transition: Michaels, C. (1998) Transition to employment. Austin, Texas: Pro-Ed International Publisher. Patton, J., Cronin, M., Wood, S. (eds.) (1999). Infusing real-life topics into Existing curricula. Austin, Texas: Pro-Ed International Publisher. Patton, J., Dunn, C. (1998). Transition from school to young adulthood. Austin, Texas: Pro-Ed International Publisher. Webb, K. (2000). Transition to postsecondary education. Austin, Texas: Pro-Ed International Publisher. Wehman, P. (ed.) (1998). Developing transition plans. Austin, Texas: Pro-Ed International Publisher. Wehmeyer, M.,Morningstar,M., Husted,D. (1999).Family involvement in transition planning and implementation. Austin, Texas: Pro-Ed International Publisher.

Career Handbooks Canada Career Development Foundation: Tools and Books http://www.ccdf.ca/ccdf/index.php/resources/tools-and-books Essential Skills Profiles for various occupations http://www10.hrsdc.gc.ca/es/english/all_profiles.aspx Department of Labour and Workforce Development (2005): career s.novascotia.ca http://careers.novascotia.ca

Provincial Documents Nova Scotia Department of Education: Transition Planning for Students with Special Needs: The Early Years through to Adult Life http://studentservices.ednet.ns.ca/document/t Alberta Scroll down to access Building on Success: Helping Students Make Transitions from Year to Year http://education.alberta.ca/admin/special/resources.aspx British Columbia Scroll down for Transition Planning http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/sped_res_docs.htm APSEA Transition Services Video Finding Your Place:Transition Services for Students Who are Blind or Visually Impaired New Brunswick Scroll down/click on Exceptionalities to access Resource For the Transition of Students with Exceptionalities From School to Work or Post Secondary Education and Adult Life http://www.gnb.ca/0000/anglophone-e.asp#ss Ontario Transition Planning (Scroll down to Transition Planning: A Resource Guide, 2002) http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/speced/transiti/transition.html

Community Resource Mapping The following are some resources that may be helpful in researching community options. Additional community resources may exist that are not listed here that the team may find valuable as they gather information. CAREER / EMPLOYMENT / VOCATIONAL TRAINING SERVICES: Provincial Autism Centre-Autism Works: http://www.provincialautismcentre.ca/our-programs/autism-works Parents as Career Coacheshttp://parentsascareercoaches.ca/ Easter Seals Nova Scotia: New Leaf Enterprises for persons with physical disabilitieshttp://www.easterseals.ns.ca/ Access to Community Education and Employment (ACEE): http://www.ilns.ca/Content/ACEE-SP.htm Affirmative Ventures: http://affirmativeventures.ca/ Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA) http://www.apsea.ca/

Community Resource Mapping CEED Centre for Entrepreneurship Education & Development Incorporated http://ceed.ca/ Solutions Learning Centre http://sollc.ca/our-program/ Department of Labour and Workforce Development (2005): career s.novascotia.ca http://careers.novascotia.ca DIRECTIONS Council for Vocational Services in Nova Scotiawww.directionscouncil.org Prescott Grouphttp://www.prescottgroup.ca/ Dartmouth Adult Services Centre (DASC)http://www.dasc-ns.ca/ Building Futures Employment Society (FUTURES) http://www.buildfutures.ca/ The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network (EDN)www.ednns.ca reachAbilityhttp://www.reachability.org/ Teamwork Cooperativewww.teamworkcooperative.ns.ca Nova Scotia League for Equal Opportunitieshttp://www.novascotialeo.org/ Nova Scotia Department of Community Services http://www.gov.ns.ca/coms/ The Workbridge Association www.theworkbridge.ca

Community Resource Mapping Youth Live http://www.halifax.ca/youthlive/ The Learning Kitchen http://www.feednovascotia.ca/getsupport_learningkitchen.html Nova Scotia Tourism Human Resource Council http://onlinetraining.tourismhrc.com/Register.php The Conference Board of Canada, Employability Skills 2000+ http://www.conferenceboard.ca/topics/education/learning-tools/employability-skills.aspx Conference Board of Canada Skills Credentialing Self Assessment and Portfolio Building Tool http://www.conferenceboard.ca/topics/education/learning-tools.aspx Job Junction http://www.jobjunction.ca/ The People Bank www.thepeoplebank.com Lake City Employment Services Association http://www.lakecitywoodworkers.com/ Service Canada http://www.youth.gc.ca/ The Watershed Association Development Enterprise http://wadens.ca/ Workink: http://www.workink.com/

Community Resource Mapping VOLUNTEER: Job Junction: List of Non Profit Organizations with Volunteer Opportunities http://www.halifax.ca/volunteerservices/VolunteerOppotunities.html Feed Nova Scotia Metro Food Bank Society Nova Scotia http://www.feednovascotia.ca/howtohelp_volunteering.html Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank http://www.parkerstreet.org/index.php/volunteering Recreation Nova Scotia http://www.recreationns.ns.ca/provincial-volunteer-awards/ Habitat for Humanity HRM http://halifax.habitatrestores.org/ Halifax Area Leisure and Therapeutic Riding http://www.bengallancers.com/HALTR.html Capital Health Volunteer Opportunities http://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/giving-volunteering/volunteering

Community Resource Mapping LEISURE AND RECREATION: Adult Service Centres N.S. Department of Community Services http://www.gov.ns.ca/coms/ Cole Harbour Recreation http://www.coleharbourplace.com/ The Halifax and Region Military Family Resource Centre http://www.halifaxmfrc.ca/index.php?c=news The Halifax Regional Public Libraries http://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/ Halifax Area Leisure and Therapeutic Riding (HALTR) http://www.bengallancers.com/HALTR.html Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Youth, Recreation & Active Circle for Living http://nsmsrc.tripod.com/ Mi’kmaq Friendship Center http://www.mikmaq.ca/directory/community.html HRM Recreation –follow links from Nova Scotia Recreation http://www.recreationns.ns.ca/ Recreation Therapyhttp://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/recreation-therapy Special Olympics Nova Scotia (SONS) www.sons.ca YMCA http://www.ymcahrm.ns.ca/ Autism Arts: http://www.provincialautismcentre.ca/our-programs/autism-arts Provincial Autism Centre Teen and Adult Social Programs: http://www.provincialautismcentre.ca/our-programs/teen-and-adult-social-programs

Community Resource Mapping Easter Seals Nova Scotia: Access 2 Entertainment (see Community Outreach) http://www.easterseals.ns.ca/programs-and-services/family-and-community-support/ Easter Seals Nova Scotia: Travel Disability Card (see Community Outreach) http://www.easterseals.ns.ca/programs-and-services/family-and-community-support/ TRANSPORTATION: Metro Transit http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit Access-A-Bus http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/access_a_bus.html Accessible Taxi Service “Need-a-Lift” www.needalift.ca HOUSING / RESPITE: Nova Scotia Department of Community Services http://www.gov.ns.ca/coms/ NSRAA Nova Scotia Residential Agencies Association www.rrss.ns.ca L'Arche Canada: www.larchecanada.org L'Arche Halifax: www.larchehalifax.org

Community Resource Mapping EDUCATION: African Nova Scotian Student Advisor (Scholarships and Support Services) Archy Beals ,Coordinator African Canadian Student Success 491-4943 http://www.nscc.ca/Services/African_Canadian_Student_Services.asp Post-Secondary Guide for African Nova Scotian Students: http://www.hrsb.ns.ca/content/id/949.html Nova Scotia Community College http://www.nscc.ns.ca/services/disability_services.asp St Mary’s University: Atlantic Centre of Research, Access, and Support for Students with Disabilities http://www.smu.ca/administration/atlcentre/learn.html Dalhousie University Office of Student Accessibility and Accommodation http://studentaccessibility.dal.ca/index.html Nova Scotia Department of Education Post- Secondary Disability Services http://rps.ednet.ns.ca Mount St. Vincent University: Mount Saint Vincent Disability Services: http://www.msvu.ca/en/home/studentservices/disabilityservices

Community Resource Mapping Partnership for Access Awareness Nova Scotia (PAANS): http://www.paans.ca/index.html CANADA STUDENT LOANS PROGRAM (CSLP). Designated Educational Institutions http://www.canlearn.ca/eng/tools/designated/index.shtml ADVOCACY: Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia (BIANS): http://braininjuryns.com/ Canadian Mental Health Association http://www.cmha.ca/ Community ACCESS-Ability Program Services NS and Municipal Relations http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/municipal/funding/community/community-accessibility-program.asp Independent Living Nova Scotia https://www.facebook.com/pages/Independent-Living-Nova-Scotia/146896108683919 The Disabled Persons Commission http://humanrights.gov.ns.ca/disabled-persons-commission

Community Resource Mapping The Halifax Association for Community Living (HACL) http://www.halifaxacl.com/ Learning Disabilities Association of Nova Scotia http://www.ldans.ca/ Council for Exceptional Children http://www.cec.sped.org/ reachAbility http://reachability.org/ Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) http://plan.ca/ Service Canada http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/ Autism Nova Scotia: http://www.provincialautismcentre.ca/ CNIB http://www.cnib.ca/en/ The Nova Scotia Down Syndrome Society http://www.novascotiadownsyndromesociety.com Laing House http://www.lainghouse.org/ Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS) http://www.legalinfo.org/

Community Resource Mapping OTHER SERVICES: Webcast: Transition and AAC by David Mc Naughton: Supporting Transitions to the Adult World for Individuals who use AAChttp://mcn.ed.psu.edu/dbm/transition/index.htm Assistive Technology Centre: Web site has links for information and resources related to assistive technology. http://assist-tech.ednet.ns.ca/ Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative www.wati.org Breakthrough www.breakthrough.ns.ca Canadian Mental Health Association: http://www.novascotia.cmha.ca Children's Aid Society of Halifax http://www.gov.ns.ca/coms/families/find_childrens_aid.html CHOICES Adolescent Treatment Program http://www.canadadrugrehab.ca/NS/Capital-Health.html#govthealth (scroll down) Literacy: The Dartmouth Learning Network http://www.dartmouthlearning.net/ The Bedford Sackville Literacy Network (BSLN) http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Education/BSLN/ The Halifax Community Learning Network http://www.hcln.ca/

Community Resource Mapping Progress Centre for Early Intervention http://www.progresscentre.com The Self-Help Connection (SHC) http://www.selfhelpconnection.ca Phoenix Youth Programs http://www.phoenixyouth.ca/ Safety Services Nova Scotia: A selection of safety courses including WHMIS and Forklift Operator Training http://www.safetyservicesns.com/ Nova Scotia Safety Council online WHMIS program: http://nssafety.virtualwhmis.com/index.php Nova Scotia Tourism Human Resource Council: WHMIS / Food Safety courses: http://onlinetraining.tourismhrc.com/default.php St John AmbulanceFirst Aid88 Slayter Street, Dartmouth, NS B3A 2A6902-463-5646 Canadian Red CrossFirst Aid133 Troop Avenue, Dartmouth, NS B3B 2A71-877-356-3226

Community Resource Mapping Learning Disabilities: Learning Disabilities Association of Nova Scotia (LDANS) http://www.ldans.ca/ Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (LDAC) www.ldac-taac.ca LD Online www.ldonline.org GUIDES AND DIRECTORIES: Government of Canada Persons with Disabilities Online: http://www.pwd-online.gc.ca

Community Resource Mapping Other Associations: NEADS: National Educational Association of Disabled Students. www.neads.ca. CADSPPE: Canadian Association of Disability Service providers in Post-Secondary Education www.cacuss.ca. AHEAD: Association for Higher Education, Access and Disability www.ahead.ie Career Planning and Assessing skills and Aptitudes: Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat site: http://youth.ednet.ns.ca Opportunity Place http://www.opportunityplace.ca/ Exploring Careers http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/tanners/exploring_careers.htm Career Planning Job Junction: http://www.jobjunction.ca/resources/career-planning/ To replace lost cards: Social Insurance Card - call 1-800-206-7218 toll free Health Card - call MSI at 496-7008 or 1-800-563-8880 toll free Birth/Death/ Marriage Certificates - call Vital Statistics 424-4381 or 1-877-848-2578 toll free

Conference Board of Canada Education and Learning Department http://www.conferenceboard.ca/topics/education/default.aspx Employability Skills 2000: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/topics/education/learning-tools/employability-skills.aspx Innovation Skills Profile: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/topics/education/learning-tools/isp.aspx

Other Resources Learning Disabilities Online. Transition: School to Work http://www.ldonline.org/indepth/transition/transition.html Career Activity File. Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education and Oklahoma’s Career Resource Network. http://www.okcareertech.org/cac/Pages/resources_products/careeractivityfile.htm University of Washington: Adolescent Health Transition Project. http://depts.washington.edu/healthtr/ Youth Engagement Tool Kit http://www.halifax.ca/rec/YouthEngagementToolKit.html Art Gallery of Nova Scotia: Programs for Youth at Risk: http://www.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca/en/AGNS_Halifax/learn/community/youth.aspx

Post- Secondary Financial Assistance Nova Scotia Department of Educationhttp://www.studentloans.ednet.ns.ca/ http://psds.ednet.ns.ca/ Database of student awards: http://studentawards.com/ http://scholarshipscanada.com/ Auburn High http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/ore/ Dartmouth High http://www.dhs.ednet.ns.ca/guidance/ Charles P. Allen http://www.cpa.ednet.ns.ca/guidance/index.html Citadel High http://www.chs.ednet.ns.ca/chsvgo/ Cole Harbour High http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/sbrothers/on-line%20office%20news.htm Eastern Shore http://www.esdh.ednet.ns.ca/school%20site/guidance.htm Flexible Learning and Education Centres http://www.flec.ednet.ns.ca/VGC/ Halifax West http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/mcknight/

Post- Secondary Financial Assistance J.L. Ilsley High http://jliguidance.ednet.ns.ca/ Lockview High http://lockview.ednet.ns.ca/guidance/ Millwood High http://www.millwood.ednet.ns.ca/guidance/main.htm Musquodoboit Rural High http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/amacbou/ Prince Andrew High School http://www.pahs.ednet.ns.ca/guidance/ Sackville High http://shsvgo.ednet.ns.ca/newvgo.htm Sir John A. MacDonald http://sja.ednet.ns.ca/guidance/vgo/vgo.htm

Transition Facts 1. What is a transition? A transition is the passage from one stage to another and is a lifelong process. Transition occurs when a student moves from home to school, from grade to grade, from school to school, or from school to community. Transition planning takes into consideration all major aspect of each student's life experiences and assists in determining appropriate educational resources and programming. The crossover from youth to adulthood carries expectations of independent living, employment and recreational pursuits. Transition planning is essential if students are to be empowered to improve the quality of their independent lives. Transition Planning recognizes the need for additional planning to design educational programs that provide students with special needs the skills, knowledge and attitudes to meet their future life aspirations. 2. What is a Transition Plan? A transition plan is a written document that reflects goals developed collaboratively in response to the specific strengths and challenges of the student in relation to his or her aspirations for the future. Transition planning assists in ensuring successful entry into school, supports students to remain in school, and at the end of their public schooling, ensures that a plan is in place for taking the "next step" towards an independent adult life in the community. The plan may cover a wide range of programming and services such as supporting students' entry into public school, post-high school options, housing, leisure, independent living, and in-school transitioning. The goals of the transition plan are incorporated into the student's individualized program plan outcomes (IPP). 3. How do school program planning teams decide the students that require transition planning? Transition Planning is an integral part of the individual program planning for all students with special needs. Transition Planning must be a part of the planning process for all students on Individual Program Plans. School to Community Transition Planning is initiated when a student enters junior high school.

Transition Facts 4. Who are the members of the transition planning team? The team membership may change in response to the student's strengths, challenges and future aspirations and the identified transition. The membership can be home based, school based and community based and must include: parent (s) / guardian (s) student (when appropriate) school principal or designate teachers involved Other members will come from a wide spectrum of service and advocacy providers which may include: school-and board-based personnel government and non-government agencies residential and recreational services providers health-care professionals advocacy organizations 5. What are the roles of the members of the transition planning team? The role of each participant, both in the planning process and subsequent follow-up, is dependent upon their expertise and the range of services they represent. Specific responsibilities of participants in the implementation, tracking, and monitoring of transition goals that are embedded in the student's Individual Program Planning outcomes will be assigned by the team chair (principal or designate) and recorded. Specific responsibilities assigned to the members of the group are essential to the successful transition process. These responsibilities can be referred to as the "action planning". This outlines the actions the adults involved in the planning will follow to ensure transition planning progress.

Transition Facts 6. When is the transition planning reviewed? The program planning team reviews the transition planning during the school year by evaluating the students’ progress towards meeting his or her goals. This level of planning is often included in the student's Individual Program Planning meeting. If the outcomes are not being achieved, it may be necessary to revise the transition planning goals or to consider and address the factors that may be barriers to achievement of the outcomes. 7. How can teams ensure effective transition planning? Transition planning is most effective when participants systematically use collaborative principles for decision making, carefully document to ensure due process, and thoroughly analyze resources and services available. Resources, finances, and programs are often shared among a variety of departments and agencies and require a collaborative team approach in order to co-ordinate services effectively.

Transition Resource Activities The following transition resource activities may be accessed from the HRSB Library-Spectacle Lake and may be signed out by teachers for a period of two weeks. The resource kits offer some information and activities that may be helpful in transition planning with some students. Phone: (902) 464-2000 Ext 2308 Email: libraryorders@hrsb.ns.ca TRANSITION RESOURCE ACTIVITY KITS Unit 1: Employment Literacy Computer / Internet / Job Search Skills Unit 2: Transit / Street Map Reading / Route Maps Time Management Unit 3: Numeracy Financial Skills

Transition Resource Activities Unit 4: Interview Skills On the Job Skills Unit 5: Portfolio skills Community Resource Mapping Transition Kiosk Online : HRSB Library-Spectacle Lake http://library.hrsb.ns.ca/imm/Kiosk.aspx

Nova Scotia Department of Education Nova Scotia Department of Education Transition Planning Guide: Transition Planning for Students with Special Needs: The Early Years through to Adult Life http://studentservices.ednet.ns.ca/document/t The Program Planning Process: A Guide for Parents pages 23-24 (scroll down for document) http://studentservices.ednet.ns.ca/document/p Assistive Technology: Supporting Student Success Assistive Technology Protocol for Transition Planning pages 38-40 http://studentservices.ednet.ns.ca/document/a Nova Scotia Department of Education Transition Planning Fact Sheet: Fact Sheet: Transition: A Lifelong Process http://studentservices.ednet.ns.ca/document/f Life Skills: Supporting Student Success (Scroll down) http://studentservices.ednet.ns.ca/document/l

HRSB Transition Brochure

Transition Planning

Canadian Resources